School for Scoundrels (1960)

A young man finds a very special school. It teaches him how to take advantage of people. He begins to put the lessons into operation.

Directors:

Robert Hamer, Hal E. Chester (uncredited)

Writers:

Stephen Potter (novels), Patricia Moyes (screenplay)

Stars:

Ian Carmichael, Terry-Thomas, Alastair Sim

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ian Carmichael	...	Henry Palfrey
Terry-Thomas	...	Raymond Delauney
Alastair Sim	...	Mr. S. Potter
Janette Scott	...	April Smith
Dennis Price	...	Dunstan
Peter Jones	...	Dudley
Edward Chapman	...	Gloatbridge
John Le Mesurier	...	Head Waiter
Irene Handl	...	Mrs. Stringer
Kynaston Reeves	...	General
Hattie Jacques	...	1st Instructress
Hugh Paddick	...	Instructor
Barbara Roscoe	...	2nd Instructress
Gerald Campion	...	Proudfoot
Monte Landis	...	Fleetsnod (as Monty Landis)

Storyline

Based on the Stephen Potter "One Upmanship" and "Lifemanship" books, Henry Palfrey tries hard to impress but always loses out to the rotter Delauney. Then he discovers the Lifeman college run by "Professor" Potter and discovers the secrets of success. But has he the courage to put all his lessons into effect?

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Plot Keywords:

london england | romantic rivalry | lifemanship | clothesmanship | partymanship | 

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Taglines:

Or how to win without actually cheating

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

The used car salesmen Dunstan and Dudley (Dennis Price and Peter Jones) were based on characters from the BBC radio comedy series "In All Directions" broadcast during the 1950s. The radio characters were known as Morry and Dud and were played by Peter Ustinov and Peter Jones who also wrote the scripts together with scriptwriters Frank Muir and Denis Norden. Their catch phrase "run for it!" was reprised in the film.

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Goofs

Ian Carmichael buys the car on the 21st May, postdating the scene in his office when the staff are listening in to a cricket test match, though the test match season did not start before early June.

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Quotes

Raymond Delauney: [Repeated line during tennis game to Palfrey] Hard cheese old boy!

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Connections

Remade as School for Scoundrels (2006)

User Reviews

Hard cheese! A jolly good show!

This fabulous film is available on DVD at last, twinned with another Alaister Sim classic, THE GREEN MAN. But, the star of this film is the dapper TERRY-THOMAS. Every scene he is in is superb. From the suave cad in the first half of the film to the flustered toff in the second, this is one of his finest performances and stands up to repeat viewings due to his expressive faces and masterful comic timing.

I hear there is going to be a Hollywood remake of this film, which will be a huge mistake as there has been no one like T-T since. I recommend anyone who is a fan of British comedy to see this classic or you will forever be crying 'hard cheese'!

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 March 1960 (UK)

Also Known As:

School for Scoundrels or How to Win Without Actually Cheating

Filming Locations:

Lambeth, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC), Guardsman Films

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1